MANAGER'S VIEW: 'He isn't going to whip it' - Niall Currie's Portadown frustration at 'avoidable' derby equaliser
Portadown’s previous visit across the Mid-Ulster derby divide to Lurgan finished in a 3-0 February loss against Glenavon away manager Niall Currie viewed “humiliating”.
Saturday’s latest edition of the celebrated clash delivered an improved return in terms of a point on the board and pride on the pitch.
Josh Ukek broke the deadlock to give the Ports early control but a second-half revival by the home side fighting to beat the top-flight drop was rewarded on 84 minutes off Peter Campbell’s free-kick finish.
Campbell – in the last action of the afternoon – received a red card for a second bookable offence before the full-time whistle confirmed a share of the spoils at 1-1.
Here’s the verdict of Portadown boss Niall Currie:
GLENAVON EQUALISER...
"We're hugely disappointed with the goal...it's through the wall.
"We gave away too many cheap free-kicks on the day as well, put ourselves under pressure.
"I'm just really, really disappointed with the goal...so avoidable.
"I think the free-kick's avoidable initially but you can't really legislate for a shot straight down the middle of the wall
"We've seen it back...the wall's half-broke before he even strikes the ball.
"You look at his run-up, he's got a big run-up so he isn't going to whip it.
"If he wants to whip it above or anything like that, he's going to take a step or two back and curl the ball.
"You need to be standing there, you need to take one on the chin, you need to stand together.
"When you compare what we were like the last time here (February's 3-0 loss at Mourneview Park) - certainly a devastating day for the town, humiliating - I can't fault the players' endeavour."
STORY OF THE MATCH: Glenavon 1 Portadown 1 - Substitute Peter Campbell grabs crucial equaliser but hit by last-gasp red in derby draw
TACTICAL CHANGES…
"We got our shape right today, we matched them up and, man-for-man, we were as good as them all over the pitch.
"We changed to a diamond midfield today and two up top.
"And I thought we stretched them, (Josh) Ukek stretched them and I thought we looked a threat.
"You've got Gary Thompson there...two training sessions under his belt, playing 60 minutes, he epitomises everything you want in a footballer.
"Last week obviously with no game we've done an in-house session.
"We've worked on the shape and matching them up.
"Pretty much knowing how consistent their team had been.
"When you're in a diamond, you don't have much width so you need to be reliant on your two full backs getting high up the pitch to supply crosses.
"But we had so many midfielders...Rabby (Minzamba), Gary, Shay McCartan, Ben Quinn, Adam Towe.
"Carlin (Sean) hurt us the most the last time here...we ended up short and we were asking Jack Scott to come from the right-hand side and it was too big of a gap.
"So Carlin had the run of the place the last time...but we had Eamon (Fyfe) on him today in the 10."
JOSH UKEK GOAL…
"He's a wonderful talent and whenever you have him on the pitch he scares teams.
"You take any big boy out of any team - and you've one, two or three of your big boys out (across the season) - and you're in trouble.
"Ukek is a game-changer.
"I thought we had, by far, some great chances in the game...'Teelo' (James Teelan) and Josh and Traynor (Aaron).
"We've come here and we're really torn up today...I thought it was a humiliating day the last time we were here but we turned up today.
"We couldn't get a draw early in the season when we needed it, we deserved so many draws...now we've had three draws in the last four.
"I'm just hugely disappointed, more so for the players...with the endeavour and everything we showed today we deserved the three points.
"It's a very difficult place to come....a Mid-Ulster derby and they're fighting for their lives.
"Michael (O'Connor, Glenavon manager) has done a wonderful job getting them into the situation they're in.
"I always say these fixtures are 50-50 games."